Stacking apparatus



July 15, 1958 Filed May 22, 1956 H. W. FAEBER STACKING APPARATUS 5Sheefs-Sheet' 1 INVZ'NTOR. HARRY w. FAEBER J y 1953. H. w. FAEBER I2,843,378

' STACKING APPARATUS Filed May 22, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR.

HARRY w. FAEBER w 61's JTTORA/EYS.

July 15, 1958 I w, FAEBER 2,843,378

STACKING APPARATUS Filed May 22, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I '46 #97 2 //6A/4a CI: F25

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HARRY W. FAEBER I BY ms 4 20mm;

22,843,378 Patented July 15, 1958 STAQKING APPARATUS,

Harry W. Faeber, Larehmont, N. Y., assignor ta Time, giccgrporated, NewYork, N. Y., a corporation of New Application May 22, 1956, Serial No.536,472 6 Claims. (Cl. 271 557) This invention relates to apparatus forstacking sheets of material such as signatures which have been producedby folding printed and cut sheets of paper from a printing press.

Heretofore, it has been the practice to cut or slit the continuous Webof into several ribbons of narrower width and cut and fold each ribbonof paper into individual signatures which are then conveyed, forexample,on a continuously moving belt or similar surface to a stacking stationwhere they are removed from the moving surface and assembled and stackedmanually by jogging.

Problems have been experienced with the type of operation described dueto the difficulty (and therefore high cost) of manually assembling andstacking the signatures and the tendency of the freshly printed surfacesto be smudged and smeared when they are rubbed against other signaturesor against the conveying surface. Moreover, with increasing press speedsmore and more personnel is required at the stacking station, so thatmanual jogging becomes impracticable.

C'ne object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism forautomatically assembling and stacking individual sheets of material.

Another object is to assemble and stack individual sheets of materialwhich are conveyed on a horizontal surface away from a station wherethey are produced to an assembling and, stacking station.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism forstacking individual sheets of material from the horizontal position onwhich they are conveyed into a vertical position.

Another object of the invention is to assemble signatures produced bythe printing press folder in such a way as to prevent smearing andtearing thereof.

Still another object is to provide a simple mechanism which will stacksheets or signatures from a multiplicity of sources in a. confinedspace; for example, sheets or signatures formed by slitting, cutting andfolding a printed web into two or more narrower ribbons and then intoindividuallengths or signatures.

The inventionmay be understood from the following descriptionconsideredtogether with the appended drawings in which correspondingreference numbers represent the same part on the various figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation view, partly in section, of the assembledapparatus constructed according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on plane 2-2 indicated onFigure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is an isometric View of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 with aportion of the machine frame broken away;

Figure 4 is a plan view of an apparatus. assembly constructed accordingto another embodiment of the invention; and

paper delivered by the printing press Figure 5 is a side elevation view,partly in section, of the apparatus assembly shown in Figure 4.

In the ensuing description the apparatus will first be described indetail, discussing only those features of the operation that arenecessary to provide background for apparatus, following which theprocedural features of the invention will be described.

Description of apparatus Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, supported onthe machine frame are shafts 11 and 12 which turn in their respectivebearings secured to the frame. Rolls 15 and 16, respectively, aremounted on the shafts 11 and 12 and serve to support continuously movingbelts 20, 21

l. and 22 which are driven through shaft 12 by any suitable mechanism,which is not illustrated.

Signatures 25, shown on Figure l and in phantom on Figure 3, aredeposited on belts -2122 in two paths 26 and 27 which are separated by asmall space 30 located near the center line of belt 21. It will be notedthat the forward end of each signature 31 overlaps the rear edge 32 ofthe signature immediately in front of it as the signatures are conveyedon the belts 20-21-22. The processing of the signatures up until thetime they are deposited on belts 24l-21-22 is in accordance with knownprocedures for printing, cutting and folding sheets of paper.

A signature arresting means is indicated, generally, at 35. Thearresting mechanism consists of two continuously moving substantiallyvertically disposed belts 36 and 37 which travel on upper roll 40 andlower roll 42. The rolls turn on shafts and 46 which are supported inbearings 10 mounted in the machine frame. The arresting mechanism 35and, in particular, belts 36 and 37 are provided with a back-upmechanism 50 which consists of a multiplicity of rollers 51 which turnon shafts 52 which, in turn, are supported in bearings 53, formed inyokes 55. Yokes 55 are integral with shafts 56 which are mounted incylindrical seats 57 formed in brackets 60 secured to the frame 10 ofthe machine. Springs 61, which are also disposed in the seats 57,yieldingly urge the back-up mechanism 50 against the inside surfaces ofthe belts 36 and 37.

Mounted on the machine frame below the lower edges 32 of signatures 25as they approach the arresting mechanism 35 are helical members and 66mounted in bearings 67 and 68, respectively, and driven by a worm andgear assembly 70 and 71 from power transmitted through shaft 12.

Mounted in the machine frame 11) below the arresting mechanism 35 and insubstantially vertical position so as to receive signatures transmittedto it from the arresting mechanism, is a conveying mechanism 75 for-medof continuously moving belts 76 and 77 which are supported on upperrolls 80 and 81 and lower rolls 82 and 83 mounted upon shafts 85 and 86,respectively. The shafts turn in bearings mounted in the machine frame10 as shown.

Referring to Figure 2, shaft 85, which drives the belts 76 and 77, isdriven by a belt through a sheave 91 keyed to shaft 12 and a sheave 92keyed to shaft 85. Belts 36 and 37 are driven by shaft 46 to which asheave 95 is keyed, which in turn is driven by a belt 96 and sheave 97keyed to the shaft 85. It will be noted that the belt 96 is twisted asit passes from the sheave 97 to the sheave 95 in order that the belts36-37 and the belts 7677 may travel in opposite directions. A suitablegear drive may also be used here to the same of feet.

Mounted in the bearings 100 and 101 is a hollow shaft MP2 that has anextended tube portion 105 of helical shape and is disposed on asubstantially horizontal axis. The

walls of the extended portion 105 of the tube have a multiplicity ofsmall holes 106 adapted to permit passage of air therethrough, and itsend 107 is closed. Beyond bearing 101 there is provided a rotating seal110 which is connected to a stationary pipe 111 which serves as a supplyof compressed air. Collars 112 and 113, which are secured to shaft 102,serve to position the shaft with respect to the hearings to preventlengthwise movement thereof. A multiplicity of similar helical tubes 115and 116 (shown in Figures 2 and 3) are provided having form, mountingand air supply means similar to tube 105. It will be noted from Figures1, 2 and 3 that helical tubes 105, 115 and 116 are spaced apart so as toaccommodate the vertically disposed signatures therebetween, as will bedescribed presently. Moreover, the axes of the respective helical tubesare parallel and coplanar so that the spaces between adjacent helicaltubes provide closely adjacent paths for the series of verticallyarranged individual signatures.

The shafts 102 are driven through an arrangement of sprockets and chaindrives shown most clearly in Figure 2, i. e., sprockets 120, 121 and 122respectively, which are driven by an end-less chain 125. The chain 125,in turn, is driven by a motor 126 through a chain 127 and sprockets 130and 131. A sprocket 130 is keyed to the shaft 102 and a sprocket 131 iskeyed to the shaft of motor 126, as shown in Figure 1. An adjustableidler sprocket 135 rides in the slack portion of chain 125 maintainingthe chain taut. Looking at the machine as in Figure 2, it will be notedthat, due to the arrangement of the sprockets and chain, sprockets 120and 122 and helices 107 and 116 rotate in a counterclockwise directionwhile sprocket 121 and helix 115 rotate in a clockwise direction.

Upper signature guides 140 and lower signature guides 141 (Figures 1 and3) are mounted on the machine frame by means not shown and serve to keepthe signatures in alignment. Receding back plates 142 and 143 at thestack-receiving station 149 ride in tracks 145 and 1 46 in a plate 50.Plates 142 and 143 are formed with downwardly extending flanges 151(Figure l) to which there are secured springs 152 attached at theiropposite ends to the machine frame. The springs yieldingly urge the backplates 142 and 143 to the right, as viewed in Figure 1, against theopposing force applied to the signatures through helices 105, 115 and116 as the signatures are fed to the stack-receiving station, asexplained hereinafter.

If desired, auxiliary means shown in Figure 3 may be provided for urgingthe vertically disposed signatures (that are between guide bars 140and141) toward the stack-receiving station. These auxiliary meansinclude continuously moving belts 160 and 161 which are driven byrollers 162 and 163, respectively, and another pair of rollers, notshown, the rollers 162 and 163 being mounted on a drive shaft 165journalled in supports 170. Movement of belts 160 and 161 in thedirection indicated by the arrows appearing in Figure 3 facilitatesoutward movement of the signatures by frictional contact thereof withthe bottom edges 32 of the vertical signatures.

Description of operation In operation, the signatures 25 are fed todelivery tapes 20, 21 and 22 in two streams or paths 26 and 27 fromanother machine such as a conventional magazine folder not shown in thedrawings. The forward edge 31 of each signature overlaps the rear edge32 of the signature immediately in front of it. The rearward edges 32are in frictional contact with delivery tapes or belts 20 2122, and thisfrictional contact supplies the force necessary to cause the signaturesto slide over each other and pile up in a substantially verticalposition at 25A as "the signatures approach arresting mechanism 35. Atthis point, the bottom edges 32 are engaged by the helical members 65and 66 for the respective paths 27 and 26, which urge forward saidbottom edges so that when each signature in success-ion contacts therotating belt 36 or 'by helices 115 and 4 37 the entire forward surfaceof the now vertical signatures is flush with the adjacent surface of thebelt. At

this time, each successive signature is forced by frictional contactwith belt 36 or 37 downwardly into contact with the continuously movingbelt of feeding mechanism 75 and into the space between adjacent helicesor 115-416.

It will be note-d from Figure 3 that the edges of the signatures extenda substantial distance into the helices so that each helix exerts apositive force moving the signature toward the packing or stackingstation 149 adjacent the back plates 142 or 143. Moreover, the need forexcessive separation of the two paths is avoided. The farther thesignature extends into the helix, the closer the two paths will be andthe greater will be the saving of space. In fact, since the helices haveno center shafts, the signatures may even extend past the center line ofthe outer helices, resulting in better control by greater surface areaof engagement between the signatures and helix.

Another advantage of the structure illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 isthat a single helix 115 may be employed to convey two adjacent paths orstreams of signatures such as 26 and 27. This structure not only reducesthe cost of the mechanism, since one part is doing the work that wouldnormally require two parts, but also simplifies the mechanism in thatthe signature paths or streams normally are closely adjacent each otheras they leave the folder, and a single tubular helix of the typedescribed, which preferably does not have a central core or shaft, maybe readily fitted into the small space 30 between the paths 26 and 27 asshown in Figure 3. If desired, more than two paths of sheets orsignatures may be processed in a similar manner by providing helices ina number one greater than the number of paths so that each helix boundsa portion of a path and at least one helix bounds adjoining paths andengages the sheets in the two adjoining paths.

Furthermore, air is forced through helices 105, 115 and 116 and iscontinuously blown through holes 106 thereby to minimize the contactbetween the signatures and the helices while the signatures are beingmoved in the desired path. Excessive contact of the printed signatureswith other surfaces is thereby avoided with the consequent minimizing ofsmearing of the ink, etc.

As shown in Figure 1, the pitch of each helix decreases toward the endadjacent the stacking station so that as the signatures approach thestacking station, they are brought closer and closer together thereby tofacilitate and expedite packing of the signatures in the stackingstation as desired.

The centrally mounted helix 115 is a left hand helix and, in order thatthe signatures may be moved toward the stacking station, rotates in acounter-clockwise direction (as seen in Figure 3). It is preferred thatthe helices bounding each path rotate in a direction such that theportions of each helix adjacent opposite edges of the same signaturemove in the same direction, i. e., either upward or downward. With thisobject in mind, helix 105 is a right hand helix and rotates in aclockwise direction. The respective inward portions of helices 107 and115, therefore, are both moving in an upward direction thereby tobalance each other and to prevent the signatures from going askew. Inpath 26, however, which is bounded 116, helix 116 is a right hand helixrotating in a clockwise direction as viewed from the stackreceivingstation, while, as indicated before, helix 115 is a left hand helixrotating in a counterclockwise direction. Therefore, in path 26 therespective inward portions of the helices both travel in a downwarddirection, thereby balancing the forces so as to prevent or minimize thetendency of the erect signatures to go askew.

Description 0) modified apparatus In the apparatus shown in Figures 4and 5, the various parts are indicated by reference numerals similar tothose K applied in Figures 1-3, inclusive. The frame of the machine isshown at The delivery belts 20, 21, 22 and 23' are supported and drivenbetween rolls and 16'. The rolls are mounted on shafts 11' and 12',respectively, which are supported by bearings in the machine frame 10.Arresting mechanism 35' is constructed in a fashion similar to arrestingmember 35, shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Conveying mechanism 75 issimilar to mechanism 75 shown in Figure 1. The arresting mechanisms 35'and the conveying mechanisms 75' are driven through a system of sheavesand belts 90', 91, 92', 95', 96' and 97 shown in Figure 4, which aresubstantially identical to the correspondingly numbered parts shown inFigure 2 and described above in connection therewith.

Helical members 65 and 66 are mounted and driven in the same manner ashelical members 65' and 66, shown in Figures 1 and 2, that is, by wormand gear systems which receive power from shaft 12. Upper andlower-guides 140' and 141, respectively, guide the signatures in thedesired path toward stack-receiving station 149, while bottom plate 150'supports the signatures at their bottom edges Back plates 142' and 143are supported on shafts 144' and wheels 145 which travel in the channels146'. The back ptlates have downwardly extending flanges 151, springs152 extending between the machine frame and the flanges so that the backplates yieldingly resist the outward thrust exerted on the signatures.

The essential elements of difference between the apparatus shown inFigures 4 and 5 and that shown in Figures 1-3, inclusive, is that theformer is provided with a wedge 200 mounted on the machine frame whichcontacts adjacent inwardly disposed edges of the signatures in the twostreams 26' and 27', thereby to separate the paths or streams of thesignatures and provide space for the helical conveyers 115a and 115!)which are presently to be described.

In order to convey and guide the signatures toward stacking stations149', shown in Figure 4, from conveying mechanism 75, there are provideda series of helically formed members 105a, 115a, 1151; and 1160. Thesemembers are mounted on bearings secured to the machine frame in a mannersimilar to corresponding parts of the apparatus shown in Figure 2, andare driven by motor 126' through a system of chain drives and sprocketssimilar to the system shown and described in Figure 2. It will be notedthat conveyer 1050 is in the form of a left hand helix and, looking atthe apparatus from stacl' ing station 149, rotates counterclockwise,while members 115:: and HM are in left hand helical form and rotateclockwise. In each case, the inward portions of the helices, whichcontact opposite edges of the same sheet, move in the same direction, i.e., downwardly toward the supporting surface of the plate 150'.

In order to provide space for the two helical members 115a and 115b, awedge 200 having its pointed end to ward the feed end of the machine ismounted between the paths 26 and 27 so as to separate the pathssufficiently to provide space for the two helical members 115a and 115b.The wedge 204 is mounted on and secured to the machine frame 10 andserves to guide the respective streams of signatures into the arrestingmechanisms 35, conveying devices 75' and stacking stations 149.

The foregoing description of the specific types of apparatus areintended to be illustrative rather than limiting the invention.Accordingly, it is intended that the appended claims include withintheir scope modifications and equivalents of the embodiments describedspecifically. all of which are within the inventive concept.

I claim:

1. A mechanism for stacking a plurality of individual sheets in edgewisefashion which are being fed to said stacking mechanism in asubstantially horizontal position on a horizontal moving surface withthe forward edge of each sheet overlapping the rear edge of the sheetimmediately in front of it and the rear edge of each sheet in contactwith said'moving surface, which comprises means for arresting theforward 'motion'of said sheets while the continued movement of saidsurface and the contact between the rear edges and said surface causesthe sheets to slide over each other thereby raising the forward edge ofeach sheet until each sheet is raised in succession to a substantiallyvertical position, means engagingeach sheet in succession while it is inthe vertical position to slide it downwardly, guiding means arrestingthe downward movement of said sheets, and means including a pair ofrotating helical members mounted on horizontal axes adapted to engageopposite edges of each successive sheet and in cooperation with saidguiding member to convey said sheets while in the vertical positiontoward a stack-receiving station, said helical mem hers being hollowtubes, one end of each tube being opened and the other end closed, thewalls of said tubes having a plurality ofholes distributed throughout asubstantial portion of its length and adapted to permit pas-- sage ofair, and means for forcing air in said open ends and through said holesthereby to move said sheets toward said stack-receiving station withminimum contact between the tubes and the sheets.

2. In a mechanism for stacking a plurality of individual sheets at astack-receiving station so that they are parallel and adjacent to eachother, a pair of hollow tubes of helical configuration rotatably mountedon axes which are parallel so that one end of each tube is adjacent thestack-receiving station and the other end is remote there from, one endof each tube being open and the opposite end closed, the walls of saidtubes having a plurality of holes distributed throughout a substantialportion of the length of the tubes and adapted to permit passage of air,means for placing the sheets in succession between said helical tubes ata point near said remote end of said tubes so that the sheets lie in aplane perpendicular to said axes and opposite edges of the sheet areengaged by the respective helical tubes, guiding means for holding saidsheets between said tubes, means for rotating said tubes and means forforcing air in said open ends and through said holes thereby to movesaid sheets toward said stackreceiving station with minimum contactbetween the tubes and the sheets.

3. In a mechanism for forming at least two stacks in side-by-siderelationship, of individual sheets at respective stack-receivingstations, said sheets being fed to said stations in a like number ofseparate parallel paths; a plu rality of helically formed members innumber one greater than the number of paths, said members beingrotatably mounted on axes which are spaced and coplanar, and parallelwith said paths so that the number of such spaces is equal to the numberof paths, each member bounds a portion of a path and at least one memberbounds adjoining paths; one end of each member being adjacent thestack-receiving station and the other end remote there from; means forplacing the sheets of each path in suc cession into the respectivespaces between said helical members at a point near said remote end ofsaid members so that the sheets lie in a plane perpendicular to saidaxes; said spaces being of size such that the respective helical membersengage opposite edges of the sheets and at least the one said memberengages the sheets in. the two adjoining paths; guiding means forholding said sheets between said members, and means for rotating saidmembers thereby to move said sheets toward said stacking stations.

4. A mechanism according to claim 3 in which the helical members arehollow tubes, one end of each tube being open and the other end closed,the walls of said tubes having a plurality of holes distributedthroughout a substantial portion of its length and adapted to permitpassage of air, and means for forcing air in said open ends and throughsaid holes thereby to move said sheets to- 'ward said stack-receivingstation with minimum contact .between the tubes and the sheets.

- edge of each sheet overlapping the rear edge of the sheet immediatelyin front of it and the rear edge of each sheet in contact with saidmoving surface, said mechanism having a stack-receiving station, guidingmeans to guide successive sheets toward said station and means adaptedto engage successive sheets and in cooperation with said guiding meansto convey said sheets while in the vertical position toward saidstation, the improvement which comprises means for arresting the forwardmotion of said sheets while in horizontal overlapped position while thecontinued movement of said surface and the contact between the rearedges and said surface causes the sheets to slide over each otherthereby raising the forward edge of each sheet until each sheet israised in succession to a substantially vertical position, separatemeans mounted between said horizontal moving surface and said arresting-rneans for engaging the bottom edges of successive sheets and assistingthe movement of said edges toward said arresting means and the movementof said sheets into the vertical position, and means engaging each sheetin succession while it is in the vertical position to slide itdownwardly into said guiding means.

6. The mechanism described in claim 5 wherein said separate means forassisting the movement of the sheet edges is a helical member mounted onan axis that is sub-,

stantially parallel to said moving surface in a position such that theouter portions of the helix engage said sheet edges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,576,243 Mentges Mar. 9, 1926 1,581,583 Low Apr. 20, 1926 1,685,945Drake Oct. 2, 1928 1,791,569 Novick Feb. 10, 1931 1,960,311 LabombardeMay 29, 1934 2,288,523 Grupe et al. June 30, 1942

